If your name isn't on the list, I'll be sending your feedback to the email address you provided when you entered the contest. You can expect your feedback by the end of the week.

In other exciting news, this weekend Go Teen Writers is hosting a word war!

What is a word war?

A word war is a competition to see who can write the most words in a set period of time. Sometimes people word war for hours. Sometimes for fifteen minutes. This time we're doing it for a long weekend.

When is it?

Thursday, April 3rd through Monday, April 7th. You can join us for any of the days and times you're available.

Where will it be?

Right here on the blog. There'll be a post each day, and you can leave comments as you make progress throughout the day or just post your word total when you're done writing. You can also leave comments of encouragement for the other writers.

Why do a word war?

Not only do word wars help you focus on your story for a period of time, but you can get a break from the isolation of writing. You get to encourage writers and be encouraged as well.

Are there prizes?

Other than the joy of boosting your word count and enjoying a fun community of writers for a weekend? No, no prizes.

I'll wait for Stephanie to weigh in on this, but I'm 99.99999% sure that the word war is open for everybody. That'd be cruel to say 'Ok winners! Let's exclude everyone and have an uber-fun word war and brag about it all week on the blog in your faces! Ha!" So, yes, the word war is for everyone. ;)

I know so many of those names! Congratulations, EVERYONE! It takes a lot of courage to enter something like this. Thank you so much for how much work you put into this contest, Jill and Stephanie! We really appreciate it.

And I am so excited for the word war! I love that it came just in time for Camp NaNo. My secret goal is that I'll finish the first draft of my novel sometime over the weekend, but we'll see.~Sarah Faulkner

Congrats to all the finalists!!! =DI hopefully will be here for a couple of the words wars--but not too many since my friend is staying for the weekend. =/ But hopefully I'll be here Thursday, Sunday, and Monday! =D

Congrats to the top 20! Thank you so much Stephanie and Jill for all the work and time you put into this contest! I'm so excited for the word war! Just started Camp NaNo, and let's just say I'm off to a bit of a rocky start. The extra boost will be great! :D

Congratulations to the Top 20!!!!!!!! That is such an awesome achievement!!!! :)

Stephanie and Jill, thank you so much for judging and creating this contest. The feedback I received was thought-provoking, which is always good when it comes to improving my craft. And really, congrats to you guys for selecting only 20 finalists! That would be sooo hard, because I know this community is full of talented writers!! :)

Thank you so much for hosting this incredible contest and upcoming word war! That's a huge time commitment to read and give feedback on 200,000 words. I so greatly appreciate your dedication to helping teen writers develop their craft!

A couple of questions about the 1,000 word contest:1) For the top 20, will the judges read our entries anonymously?2) How many contestants will proceed to the final round?

Thank you SO MUCH, Stephanie and Jill, for doing this writing contest. I hadn't entered a writing contest since I was ten or eleven, and I'm so excited I'm able to participate in this one! I freaked out when I saw my name on this list. This is so amazing. I feel so honored and blessed. :)

Thanks again for doing this and everything else you do! This blog is by far my favorite place to get writing advice and encouragement.